Monday, 24 December 2012

Hello lovelies,As this time of year is filled with parties and events, I thought I would try out a glamorous look for the festive season.When I apply make-up on myself I tend to focus on the eyes rather than the lips and enjoy rocking a dramatic eye with nude lips and this is what I have created in this case.

Saturday, 22 December 2012

Hello and welcome to My Beauty Fix,I recently had someone ask me what they could use to make sure their eyeliner stays put all day as it kept smudging after a few hours. So I thought I would turn it into a Beauty fix for all of you that have the same problem.There are a few things that could be causing your eyeliner to smudge,

Your eyelids may become oily throughout the day, making the liner slide.

You may have hooded eyes, which is where the skin from your upper eyelid hangs down over the crease and rubs against the liner.

Or the eyeliner you are using is not a suitable formula or is not manufactured very well (you can usually rule this one out if it is a well known brand).

Regardless of the reason for your eyeliners movements there are steps you can take to ensure your eyeliner stays put all day and doesn't fade.Fix 1: Prime your eyes! You can find some great eyeshadow primers on the market that are made specially to solve this problem. Urban Decay, Too Faced, Mary Kay, MAC and many more create many different types of primer to suit specific needs. This will create a good base for your eyeliner and even eyeshadow and will keep it all in place for longer. Remember to apply to all the areas you are going to apply liner to, so don't forget under the lower lash line.Fix 2: Set your liner! Just as you set your foundation with translucent or mineral powder to help it last, the same can be done with your eyeliner. Choose an eyeshadow that matches your eyeliner shade and gently press on over your applied eyeliner. This will set the liner and make it stay in its place.Fix 3: if the above fixes don't work for you, then it may be time to invest in some different formulas. I find gel liners are really hard working and rarely smudge, there are some great gel liners on the market in brands such as MAC, Urban Decay, Bobby Brown, Maybelline, Collection Cosmetics and many more. There are also many waterproof or long lasting eyeliner formulas from Urban Decay, Make Up For Ever, Barry M, Benefit and many more.I hope this is able to fix any eyeliner issues you may be having, but if you are still having problems please let me know as I will be happy to help find a solution that is right for you.Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

I am back from Venice and I still feel in a daze after such a wonderful trip! Venice is such a beautiful and magical place and we had an amazing time, it just feel such a shame that its all over now and were back to the rat race.

For those of you that follow me on Instagram you may have seen some of these images already, but I just wanted to share with you some of the images from my wonderful trip!

(From left to right) On the plane getting ready to leave Gatwick Airport, the beautiful Grand Canal in Venice and the view from the famous Rialto Bridge.

(From left to right) The amazing pasta, the amazing pizza and wine, the lovely view as we crossed the lagoon on the vaporetto (public boat transport).

(From left to right) The lovely Xmas market in Padua, examples of the stunning Murano glass on the Island of Murano, the beautiful view along the Island of Murano.

(From left to right) The Rialto Bridge from afar, me on the Rialto Bridge, the beautiful streets of Venice.

Venice was so amazing, such lovely people, beautiful architecture and stunning views. We managed to explore most of the main islands and took day trips to Padua and Treviso.

What was great was that everyone seems so laid back there, it is frowned upon to try and eat dinner before 8pm at night and you are supposed to enjoy an 'Ombra' which translates to 'shadow' (of wine). So you fill the early evening with a few glasses of wine and then head for dinner later on. It's all very social and a lot of fun!

I cannot stress what a lovely place this was to visit, we spent a week exploring and walking an awfully long way but every moment was worth it. It was such a relaxing holiday that I wish I was still out there. If you ever have the chance to visit Venice, please do as you will not regret it!

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

I am so excited to annouonce one of my shoots has been published!! The shoot was with the lovely model Becky Golder and amazing photographer Magic Owen of Gloss Envy. It was a great shoot and so much fun and it has all paid off now.

The Magazine that our work has been published in the December 2012 issue of a magazine called Editorial which is a collection of fashion images.

Editorial is a collection of fashion imagery. It is a magazine
filled with photographs from artists all around the world. No words;
just images.

Our images are on pages 38 and 39! I cannot wait until my copy arrives!

Monday, 10 December 2012

This weeks problem is about fading eyeshadow, don't you just hate it when you spend ages applying some lovely colours to your lids, but after a few hours they've disappeared! Well here's my tips on how to keep them looking fresh and smouldering all day long!

Step Two: Apply an eyeshadow primer to the eye area. There are many products on the market that are tailored for this purpose, some of my favourites are Urban Decays Eyeshadow Primer Potion, MAC's Prep and Prime Eye, Benefits Lemon Aid and Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer, although there are many more out there. These work great under your eyeshadows to help them blend and stay put all day.

Alternatively, if you don't want to spend money on a primer just for your eyes, try using a light layer of concealer across your lids, not only will this counteract any colour you may have on your lids, but it will also act as a primer to help the colour last all day.

Another option is to use a product like MAC's paint pots in Painterly (nude matte) or Bare Study (nude with gold shimmer) which I love as they give a lovely wash of colour but also helps keep any other colours in their place.

Step Three: Apply your eyeshadows as normal but make sure you blend well, this will help push the colours into the primer/concealer which will help them last longer.

Step Four: this is an optional step, if you are really concerned about your make-up fading or sliding, try a finishing or setting spray like Urban Decay's All Nighter, MAC's Fix+ (I haven't tried either of these yet so I can't comment how how long they will last but I have heard good things), Collection Cosmetics Fix Me Up or any of the other setting sprays that are out there. For big events I use the Model in a Bottle setting Spray, but because this is quite heavy I don't recommend it for everyday use, but it works amazingly!

Step Five: If after all of these steps your eyeshadow is still not lasting all day, then there must be something wrong with the product you are applying. If you have had it for a long time it may have gone off, so smell it and see if there is anything funky about it and if there is then please throw it out! It is better to have wasted your money than risk your health, so throw it away and treat yourself to some new eyeshadows!

Now you can practice applying those smouldering eye looks that will last you all day and night!

Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!

Saturday, 8 December 2012

On my mission to be extremely well planned for my holiday I was on the search for some make-up products that will help me reduce the amount of products I need to take with me and I came across this item from MUA: Make-up Academy.

The Lip Boom is a double ended product with a full-sized lipstick on one end and a substantially-sized lipgloss on the other end. These come in many different shades, but for me I found the best choice was the OK.Com shade which combines a strong nude lipstick with a peachy, glittery lipgloss.

What I love about this item is that for £3 you have one product that covers your lip and glossy needs. It really will reduce the amount of things I have to pack as everything takes up so much more room when you have a limit you have to stick to!

The swatches I tried on myself came out really well, but I haven't had a chance to fully try it out yet, so I will fill you in as soon as I can give it a good test run!

Thursday, 6 December 2012

I'm sure many of you know already, but I am getting ready to go on holiday to Venice for a week and I am so excited! Although I have been away for odd weekends here and there, this feels like my first real holiday this year as it will just be me and the Boyf for a whole week of relaxation and exploration. I k now, I can see you all saying, "But the years almost over?" And I am nodding along in agreement, it is almost the end of the year and in our usual laid back manner, we have left our holiday to the last minute! Oh we'll, at least we're making it away somewhere and I am so pleased to be leaving the UK for a while to explore an exotic city.

http://www.holiday-velvet.com

As I am going to be so busy in the lead up to the trip, I decided it was time to start planning my packing early rather than leaving it all to the last minute and I wanted to share with you my Beauty travel essentials to help keep your packing as light as possible and efficient.

Usually, I am all about packing for the 'just in case' moment that never arrives and realise that my bag is so heavy I'm going to hurt my back if I have to carry it any longer. So this year I've decided to stick with the essentials, and here is my checklist:

Travel Essentials

Eye Make-up Remover and make-up wipes - it is important to remove all of your make-up no matter where you are as this will keep your skin clean and clear of breakouts.

Cleanser - Very important to keep your skin clean wherever you go

Moisturiser - very important to keep your skin looked after as it won't be used to the new temperatures whether hot or cold.

Sunscreen - this is very important if you are travelling to a hot country, if you aren't then try to pick a moisturiser that contains an SPF so your skin is still protected no matter what the weather.

Shampoo & Conditioner - my hair goes haywire in unknown humidities so its good to have the right products to tame, and even better if you get them in miniatures!

Toothpaste and toothbrush - not sure this requires an explanation, lol

Deodorant, talc and any other travel sized toiletries you may need - I love anything that comes in a miniature/travel size, but try to keep it minimal and only what you need on a daily basis.

Make-up Essentials

Primer/oil control mattifier - depending on your skin type

Concealer

Foundation

Translucent or mineral powder

Blush/Bronzer - great if you can find a travel palette like Mary Kay's

Eyeshadow - this is down to personal preference and what you like to wear everyday. Personally I like to define my eyes everyday, but I try to keep it minimal and take a couple of shades for he day and a couple for night which is great if you can put them together in a travel palette.

Eyeliner - if you're not into wearing a lot of eyeshadow each day then taking a couple of different coloured eyeliners will allow you to define your eyes and spice up your looks for the day/night with minimal effort and space.

Mascara

Tinted Lip balm - great for taking care of your lips in any temperature and gives you a natural glow for when you can't be bothered with lipstick.

Lipstick and lip gloss - I like to take two shades of lipstick with me so I can have a choice when I'm away, a natural (almost nude) shade and a brighter colour.

Brow gel or clear mascara - there's no need to go crazy on your brow products while your away, but a quick brush through with some gel or clear mascara will help keep them in check.

Well, I think that's about everything I could possibly need.... I hope!

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

Now, I'm no photographer but the SWPP is the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers and in the last few months I have been working closely with Ravinder Crone Photography to put together some great shoots. The shoots we have worked on have been filled with inspiration, excitement and some very beautiful models. Recently, we worked with the lovely Fredau H and we entered one of the images we created to the SWPP's Monthly Competition.

I am so excited, because our image was awarded Highly Commended! There are so many amazing images entered into this competition and I am so proud that our images can be a part of that.

Sunday, 2 December 2012

Today's fix is just a quick one, but it happened to me this morning and I had a little Eureka moment! You know when you're in a rush getting ready (which I'm sure is most of us, the majority of the time) and you apply your concealer, eyeshadow and liner perfectly then when you come to put your mascara on, you blink too quickly and end up with mascara smudged everywhere!

Now, you have two options, you can either huff and wipe off your make-up in the areas that have been tainted with mascara and reapply or you can try my quick and simple fix.

My fix: Wait for the mascara to dry and then use a cotton bud to wipe away the dry flakes of mascara. The trick here is to wait until the mascara is dry. It is natural to want to wipe away the smudge as soon as possible, but fight the urge as wet mascara will end up smudging more.

Give it a try next time, It is really that simple!

Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!

Friday, 30 November 2012

I would like to take this opportunity to say a big hello and welcome to my new followers!

I am currently in love with the Models Own range, having heard such great things about it I found it is sold in Boots and so I had to go and check it out.

Along with a couple of colours (which I will show at another time) I picked up a lovely little set of mini glitters.

As part of this set you get three little glitter nail varnishes that are a great size and you get three pots for £8 instead of £5 for one full sized pot which I think is a great bargain.

The first pot is called Blizzard and is a mixture of silver holographic shapes that work to reflect the light creating a variety of shades of colour. The formula is quite sparse so it takes a few coats to build a good coverage but I found it looks good over a bold colour like I tried here,

Here I paired the Blizzard glitter with a bold pink from Models Own called Sophie's Pink.

The next varnish is called Pink Fizz, this is a collection of light pink glitter that is strong in colour and coverage.

As this is a thicker formula, I have used it here on a plain undercoat. It is great for a quick coat if you don't have much time as it will cover your nails with only one coat, but you may need two if you want a complete layer.

The final polish is called Southern Lights and is my favourite out of all three in the set. This is a bold and bright mixture of holographic glitter that has a great coverage and really sparkles.

Here I have used this glitter again on a plain undercoat and only needed a thick first coat to get full coverage which was great as it was quick and easy.

The final results were great on all three glitter polishes and they are a great addition to my collection. Personally, I prefer the thicker glitters as you have the option of wearing them on their own or with colours and that's great if you just want to do a quick coat on your nails. They are also quite long lasting, although I do find most glitter polishes last longer than colour polishes but the down side is they are harder to get off.

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Hello everyone,I have been very honoured to be awarded the Liebster blog award by Elle Woo from Lipstick and Lace, Nikki from Heaven Has Cupcakes and Tasha from Wand_included. Thank you so much for this! I have been nominated for this award before and you can see my post here, but as I'm not sure on what the correct protocol is if you have been nominated previously I thought it was best to graciously accept and answer the questions that were asked of me!

For those of you that don't know,"The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. What is a Liebster? The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome."The Rules:- Link back to the blogger that nominated you - Write 11 random facts about yourself- Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger that nominated you- Create 11 questions of your own questions for blogs you would like to give the Liebster award- Choose up to 11 blogs with under 200 followers to award

My

11 Random Things:

I have a sad obsession with stationary! I love collecting notebooks, but am always too scared to write in them in case I ruin them with my bad handwriting.

I love reading crime novels, but can never find enough time to read as much as I would like.

I love drinking tea and drink far too much, but only normal breakfast tea none of that fruity stuff (although it looks nice)

I love high heels and lust after so many pairs, but am useless in walking in heels!

I was hit by a car when I was 14 and broke my leg. I still have screws in there, so keep an eye out when on those roads everyone!!

Other than my leg, I have never broken another bone in my body! (Fingers crossed)

I am writing this post in my PJ's!

I hate being sick! I know no-one likes to be ill, but I despise it! It’s such a useless waste of time and stops you from doing the things you want to do.

I would love to be able to draw and keep promising myself I will try to learn somehow.

I enjoy cooking, but only when I can be bothered (which isn’t very often)

I hate feet! They are so ugly and I do everything I can to avoid them! Lol

What made you want to start blogging?I created a blog because everyone else was doing it, but then I didn’t touch my blog for months. Then one day it hit me, people might be interested in what I have to say about certain products and I wanted to share my knowledge. So I started blogging and found I really enjoyed having my blog as an outlet for my own thoughts and opinions and if anyone read them then that would be great, and if no-one did then that was fine too. Since then I have had so much fun creating posts and finding other great blogs out there to read.

What inspires you everyday to do what you do? When I was younger, I dreamt that I would be a successful make-up artist, travelling all over the world and working with many great people. I don't yet feel as though I have reached my goal, so I get up every day and do what I can to get that little bit closer. Today, my dream has changed and although I want to be successful and to travel, I feel like I work with great people every day and I am always meeting new and interesting people that help to make each day a new adventure.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?I think it would be the ability to read peoples minds. I love to try and help people figure out what it is they want and need to help them feel great every day. But many people don't quite know how to express what they are looking for, so to be able to read peoples minds would be great!

What would be your dream job?Creative Make-up Director of Christian Dior. I absolutely love the brand and love the history and that would be an amazing job!

If you could have 3 wishes, what would you wish for? (No wishing for more wishes!)Oh this is so hard! Ok, 1 - to be debt free! It would be amazing to not have anything to worry about and to have financial freedom to do what you want. 2 - To have an endless walk-in wardrobe (you know like the one from the Carlsberg adverts). 3 - To have an amazing penthouse apartment, with luxury furnishings and everything you could imagine!

What is your favorite food?I love sandwiches! In any shape or form, they're just amazing as you can do so many things with them.

What 3 places would you travel to first if you could go anywhere in the world?If I could just click my fingers and be anywhere in the World, I think I would have to choose Hawaii, New York and Thailand.

What's your favorite number? 13, its my birthday! I find many people think of 13 as an unlucky number but it has never been bad luck for me so I try to stick with it.

What is your favorite fashion trend for the Fall season?I'm loving all the warm and cosy jumpers that are in fashion this season there are so many great styles and patterns. I'm not usually a jumper wearer but this has definitely changed this year.

What is your favorite makeup brand?I can't really say that I have one brand that I love more than anything else. I love the colours of MAC, the packaging of Urban Decay and the luxury of Dior. I guess I don't believe that one brand can do everything 100% right all the time when it comes to products which is why I love to have a variety in my kit.

What one makeup product could you not live without and why? (E.g., foundation, lipstick, eyeliner, etc.)I think it would have to be mascara, without it my lashes are quite fair and so it looks like I have no eyes.

I really wanted to create a space where I could share my views and tips on make-up in the hopes that I could help anyone that could be having problems with their own make-up. I wanted to learn how to express myself and my views while meeting new people and making new connections.

2. Do you have a vlog channel? If not, would you ever consider vlogging?I do, its Daniduffymakeup. I created the account hoping that I could extend my blog posts into videos. But I’m so shy in front of a normal camera (let alone a video camera) that I created one video and posted it, and hated all the others while editing them that I haven’t uploaded any more.

3. What is your absolute favorite beauty product? OMG this is such a hard question to answer! I can’t say I really have one absolute favourite product that I will use for all eternity, but at the moment I cannot stop using my Naked palette from Urban Decay, there are so many amazing shades in there that I can use it to create so many different looks.

4. What is your favorite store to visit when shopping for beauty products?I love shopping at Boots, they hold so many different high street brands all in one place.

5. What is your favorite clothing store? Ooh this is such a hard one, as I don’t tend to buy all of my clothes in one place. I like shopping at House of Fraser or New Look, but it all depends how much money I have to shop with! Lol

6. Where did you grow up?I have lived in a few different houses in my lifetime as my mum used to get bored with where we lived and we would move to a better area. I have spent most of my life in Amersham which is in Buckinghamshire. Its an absolutely lovely town to grow up in.

7. What has been your favorite purchase in the last month? (Not just beauty or fashion - anything!)Back in April of this year, I had my Iphone 4S stolen! Booo! This month, I have finally saved up enough to replace it, I am soooo happy now to have my lovely while Iphone back in my pocket!

8. Where do you do most of your blogging? (Your bedroom, your dining room, a coffee house?)I would have to say in my bedroom, and sat on my bed. I find it’s the most peaceful place and I like to spread everything out when I work so it gives me the space I need without any distractions.

9. What's a current beauty or fashion trend that you wish would go away?The Scouse Brows, I'm sorry to any of you lovely people that have them, but for me it's not a good look. The brows are supposed to frame the face, but not that boldly.

10. Who is your inspiration?There are so many! I love Pat McGrath, she is an amazing make-up artist and she is my complete idol! I am also inspired by Christina Aguilera she has some amazing looks and transformations and is just beautiful.

11. If you could be a celebrity for a day, who would you choose and why? I think I would be Lady Gaga, it would be so cool to dress up in her clothes and come up with such creative and outrageous looks, how fun that would be!

11 Questions from Tasha1. Where did your blog name come from?My Make-up & Beauty Obsession! came from just that! I love make-up and beauty and everything to do with it, almost obsessively. The name came quite quickly really.

2. What main item is on your holiday wishlist?The Urban Decay Vice palette, it looks amazing!

3. What is your all time favourite perfume?All-time, I think it would have to be J'Adore by Dior. I love that scent!

4. Do you have any beauty box subscriptions?Sadly I don't, there are many that I would love to join but I just don't have the spare funds at the moment. I have previously had the Glossybox and loved receiving my delivery each month but I found many of the products were things I wasn't really interested in so decided to stop receiving them for the time being.

5. Where is your favourite place in the world?This is such a hard one! I love London, no particular area just the City as a whole, there is so much going on there and I love to spend the day getting lost in the crowds and exploring.

6. Who is your favourite Disney character? Hercules! I love the film and like how good and kind a character he is and is always looking out for everyone elses best interests,

7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years times?Hopefully still here blogging away, sharing my thoughts with you all!

8. Who is your favourite singer/band? Usher, I love so many great singers and bands but Usher is one that never changes for me. I have most of his albums and love all of his songs!

9. What item of clothing do you always reach for?A cardigan! I'm always cold so need to wrap up even when its hot out!

10. New make up or new clothes?Make-up definitely! A good item of make-up will never go out of fashion and will never make you feel fat or frumpy!

11. What lipstick shade do you tend to go for?I usually tend to go for nudes, I like to add definition and shape to my eyes and get creative in that way, so I like to stick with neutrals on my lips or pale pinks so that the emphasis is on my eyes.

Thank you ladies for some great questions, they really got me thinking!

My 11 Questions for you

What is your favourite beverage? (hot or cold)

What book/magazine are you currently reading?

Do you enjoy cooking?

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

If you were stranded on an island what 3 items would you have to have with you?

What would be your idea of a perfect date night?

What is the worst job you’ve ever had?

What is one of your pet peeves? (something that really winds you up)

What nail colour are you wearing right now?

If you went into a sweet shop, what would be your first choice of sweets to take home with you

Monday, 26 November 2012

I am started to get excited about how close Xmas is now getting and so I thought it was about time I started my Xmas Wishlist!

The item that is at the top of my wishlist is the Urban Decay Vice Palette, I want it so bad after seeing this item online and reading reviews on it! It looks amazing and has so many lovely colours. At £42, its a little out of my price range so will be a great idea for Xmas!

Urban Decay Vice Palette - Image from www.houseoffraser.co.uk

I love treating myself to a new hat, scarf and gloves set each winter and this year should be no exception. I have found a set I absolutely love, so warm, cosy and girly all at the same time!

They're from John Lewis and are a little expensive, but theyre sooo pretty!

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Welcome to this weeks instalment of My Beauty Fix! This week, I would like to tackle any problems you have with eyeshadow fallout. It is always such a shame when you spend ages reaching the point where your skin and base are applied perfectly only to ruin it when you start in your sexy smokey eyes and drop black eyeshadow all over your cheek (I've lost count of how many times its happened to me!). There's nothing you can do about it, every time you wipe it you just smear the blackness all across your face. So what do you do? Here are my quick fixes to help you...

Fix 1: It sounds so simple that you are going to kick yourself for not thinking of it before, but how about applying your eye make-up first! When I first heard this, I couldn't believe how simple the solution was and it really helps! This way you can do whatever you like with your eyes and you can just wipe away any mess you make before applying your base.

Fix 2: If the first fix sounds a bit scary and awkward, or even if you just forget and have applied your base before you remember the fix, then try dusting a heavy amount of translucent powder on your cheeks, just below the eye area. Don't get me wrong, this will look strange but the layer of translucent powder will catch any shadow fallout and allows you to sweep away all of it without it smudging. But be warned, you need to apply a lot of powder under the eyes, enough that you can see it sat there otherwise it won't work. Also, sweep the powder inwards (towards the nose) as this goes against the hair growth on your face and makes it easier to brush away rather than blend in.

Shadow Shields from www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

Fix 3: Finally, the other option is an eyeshadow guard. I have seen the girls over at Pixiwoo use them on a few occasions and they seem to help, personally I haven't tried them yet so I can't comment on how good they are but I do believe they could be a solution to this problem. Having scoured the web, I have found them to buy here at Cocktail Cosmetics where you can get 30 for £7.95.

I hope you have enjoyed My Beauty Fix this week and hope my tips can help you stop wasting your time clearing up after the inevitable eyeshadow fallout!

Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!

Thursday, 22 November 2012

As the cold weather sets in and winter is upon us, it's time to start thinking about your skincare routine and what you may need to do to tweak it for the colder season.

The best way to start this is to think 'emollient and hydrating'. Without us even realising it, our skin can be affected by the weather and changes in temperature. Do you ever find you have random dryness after being in a room with really strong air conditioning? Or do you feel a bit oilier than normal when you're somewhere hot and humid? This is our skins way of coping with the environmental changes that surround us.

To help keep your skin in top condition through the winter months, here are some tips that can help,

Opt for a creamy cleanser - swap out your normal cleanser for a creamier formula in the winter, or try using a light, creamy cleanser in the morning and your normal cleanser at night as this will help retain the skins protective oils.

Try a rose water skin fresher or toner - avoiding alcohol in products is your best bet this time of year as the alcohol will dry out your skin.

If you have normal to dry skin, opt for an oil based moisturiser to keep your skin full of moisture.

If you have oily skin, stick to a lighter formula of moisturiser but make sure you are still getting the hydration you need.

Keep your skin soft and smooth by using eucalyptus and jojoba oils in the bath - many products on the market contain these oils, pour them into the bath, sit back, relax and enjoy a soak.

Use a hydrating face mask once a week to put moisture back into your skin.

Apply hand and body lotion twice a day to keep your skin fresh and moisturised.

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Welcome to the start of the 'My Beauty Fix' series, I realised the are lots of little beauty problems that should be easy to fix if you know what to try. I want to share with you some of my little tips and tricks that I use on a regular basis in the hopes that I can help anyone that suffers with the same frustrating problems I do.

If any of you have any little annoying beauty problems that you would like fixed then please leave me a comment or email me and I will do my best to find you a solution!

To get started, I thought I would pick a big problem that I know effects lots if people to get the ball rolling.

Ok, so we all look great when were sat in front of our mirror getting ready at home; prepped, primed and looking gorgeous. But if you're anything like me as soon as you get in the car and check yourself in the rear view mirror you notice your lipstick has worn off already and all that time you spent getting that perfectly shaped pout was all a waste as now your back to au naturelle.

If this is you, then here are my quick tips to making sure your lipstick lasts longer than you do on a night out!

Before we start, make sure you have exfoliated all the dead skin off your lips and have moisturised them well. Starting with well prepared lips can make a big difference.

Step One: Line your lips! Line your lips and fill them in using the lip liner, this will create a sturdy base for your lip colour to cling to. Whether it is a matching lip liner to the lip colour you are about to apply or a clear liner (great products that are out in the market now).

Step Two: Apply your lipstick! This is pretty straight forward, but I like to use a brush to do this as it gives me more control of the product and helps it glide on in the right places.

Step Three: Blot! Using a clean tissue, rest it between your lips and press down.

Step Four: Repeat steps two and three! That's right apply and blot once more, even twice if you want to.

Your lips will now be piled high with beautiful lip colour that will stay on for hours! But for extra staying power try my Super Step five!

Super Step Five: Now that your lips are applied and looking luscious, take a tissue and separate so that you are only using 1-ply rather than 2 or 3 (this will mean it is pretty much see through, but it is what we need!) hold this 1-ply of tissue against your painted lips and brush translucent powder onto your lips through the tissue. This will set the colour without getting lipstick on your brushes or loose bristles stuck to your lips but will leave your with a smudge proof pout!

Go on try it! You'll be amazed and it will shock you to have no lipstick marks left on your glasses (or boys!)

Happy kissing everyone!

Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!